Morinville RCMP arrested a young man last week in connection with a fire that was deliberately set and destroyed a home in Cardiff Echoes.
RCMP officers and fire crews from Morinville, Namao and Legal came in to battle the blaze on Friday June 18, shortly after 12:30 p.m.
Mitchell Hurst, 25, made his first appearance on June 25 on two separate arson charges and one count of mischief. The case was set over until July 22.
Hurst appeared through the closed circuit television system and his matter was postponed to allow the court to conduct a psychiatric assessment in order to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial.
Morinville RCMP Staff Sgt. Mac Richards said local citizens helped the RCMP considerably.
“They were being good citizens and passing on information that they were aware of that helped us locate a suspect.”
Richards said in addition to the house fire, there were signs of other arson damage around the neighbourhood.
“There was some evidence of other fires being set in the community, to a couple of trees.”
Sturgeon County deputy fire Chief Pat Mahoney described the house as a “total loss” and estimated the damage could run as high as $400,000. Mahoney said the fire even did about $30,000 damage to the neighbouring house.
